Wet scrubbing and vacuum cleaning apparatus



5, 1967 M. s. CAVELL ETAL. 3,

WET SCRUBBING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet l INV N MATTHEW S. CAV

STA H. FlSHMTAN BY mu ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1967 M. s. CAVELL ETAL 3,355,762

WET SCRUBBING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT'ORS MATTHEW S. CAVELL BY mm P ATTORNEYS WETSCRUBBING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed 0012. 14, 1965 Dec. 5,1967 M. s. CAVE-ILL ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS MATTHEW S. CAVELL TH. Fl HMAN BY Z/M QM/4X ATTORNEYS United States Patent OfiFice 3,355,762Patented Dec. 5, 1967 3,355,762 WET SQRUBBENG AND VAEJUUM tILEANliNGAiPARA'iUi Matthew S. Car ell, 3521 Saginaw Drive, and Stan H.

Fishman, 3744 S. Washington Road, both of Fort Wayne, ind. 46804 FiledOct. 14, 11965, Ser. No. 495,795 12 Claims. (Cl. 15-321) This inventionrelates generally to wet vacuum cleaning apparatus and more particularlyto apparatus for applying a cleaning liquid to a surface, scrubbing thesurface, and thereafter removing the liquid by vacuum.

Wet vacum cleaners which remove liquid from a surface by vacuum are wellknown to the art and a number of different types are commerciallyavailable. In the cleaning of large floor areas, such as stores andwarehouses, it has been common practice to apply a cleaning liquid, suchas water and detergent, by a hose or mop, to then scrub the surface withconventional scrubbing brushes or a powered scrubber, and then to removethe dirty liquid with a wet vacuum cleaner. There are other cleaningapplications such as the floor mats and the trunks of automobiles whereit has been common practice to apply the cleaning liquid and scrub thesurface manually and then merely to wipe up the dirty liquid withsponges, towels, or the like.

Combined scrubbing and wet vacuum cleaning apparatus has been proposedfor performing all three operations, i.e., application of the cleaningliquid, scrubbing the surface, and removal of the dirty liquid byvacuum. In such apparatus, it is necessary to spoil the vacuum while theliquid is being applied and during the scrubbing operation. Such priorcombined scrubbing and wet vacuum cleaning apparatus has generally beencharacterized by its complexity and the provision of manually-actuatedcontrols for each of the operations. It is therefore desirable toprovide wet scrubbing and vacuum cleaning apparatus for use with aconventional Wet vacuum cleaning device in which the vacuum isautomatically spoiled during application of the cleaning liquid andfurther characterized by its simplicity. It is further desirable thatsuch apparatus be applicable not only to the wet scrubbing and vacuumcleaning of commercial establishments, but also any wet scrubbing andvacuum cleaning operation such as on floors, ceilings, walls and onsmaller areas such as the floor mats and trunks of automobiles.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide improved wetscrubbing and vacuum cleaning apparatus. Another object of the inventionis to provide improved Wet scrubbing and vacuum cleaning apparatus inwhich the vacuum is automatically spoiled during application of thecleaning liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved wet scrubbingand vacuum cleaning apparatus which is simpler than prior apparatus.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved wet scrubbingand vacuum cleaning apparatus in which the vacuum is maintained in thespoiled condition during the scrubbing operation following applicationof the cleaning liquid.

The apparatus of the invention, in its broader aspects, includes acleaning head for scrubbing the surface which includes a liquid passagefor applying a cleaning liquid to the surface and a vacuum passage forremoving the liquid from the surface. A vacuum conduit is providedhaving one end coupled to the vacuum passage of the cleaning head andits other end adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source, such as aconventional wet vacuum cleaner, the vacuum conduit having an aperturetherein intermediate its ends. A first selectively actuable valve isprovided having first and second positions for respectively opening andclosing the aperture in the vacuum conduit. A liquid conduit is providedhaving one end coupled to the liquid passage in the cleaning head andits other end adapted to be coupled to a source of liquid underpressure, which may be the city water supply. The vacuum and liquidconduits may be flexible to permit manipulation of the cleaning head. Asecond selectively actuable valve is provided in the liquid conduit foradmitting liquid to the liquid passage. In order to spoil the vacuum inthe vacuum passage while liquid is being applied to a surface to becleaned, means are provided coupling the liquid conduit and the firstvalve for actuating the same to its first position, i.e., with theaperture in the vacuum conduit open, in response to liquid flow in theliquid conduit.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention andthe manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptionof an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the improved wet scrubbing andvacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the cleaning headof the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the eductor andvacuum-spoiling valve of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary drawing, partly in cross-section, illustrating amodification of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the improved wetscrubbing and vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention, generallyindicated at 10, is shown coupled to a conventional wet vacuum cleaner12 which may be supported on conventional casters 14 formaneuverability. The apparatus 10 comprises a scrubbing head 16, avacuum conduit 18 coupling the scrubbing head 16 to the vacuum inlet 20of a conventional wet vacuum cleaner 12, a liquid conduit 22 adapted tobe connected to a source of liquid under pressure (not shown), which maybe the available city water supply, an eductor 24, a detergent container26 and a vacuum spoiling valve 28. It will be seen that a section 30 ofthe liquid conduit 22 extends through section 32 of the vacuum conduit18, the liquid and vacuum conduit sections 30, 32 preferably beingconventional flexible hoses so as to permit manual manipulation of thescrubbing head 16 with respect to the wet vacuum cleaner 12.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the scrubbing head 16 comprises a bodyportion 34 which may be formed of conventional molded plastic materialor alternatively may be a die-cast metal part. Body 34 has a liquidpassage 36 formed therein which terminates at the operative end 38 and avacuum passage 40 formed therein which likewise terminates at theoperative end 38. A conventional brush assembly 42 may be mounted on thebody portion 34 surrounding the operative end 38, as shown.

An inner sleeve member 44 is provided communicating with the vacuumpassage 4t? and extending rearwardly therefrom. The liquid conduit 30,which extends through the vacuum conduit 32, has its outer end 46-extending over the sleeve member 44 and received within an aperture 48in the body portion 34. A cavity 59 communicates between the outer end46 of the liquid conduit 30 and the liquid passage 36. A liquid applyingvalve 52 is provided, valve 52 being a conventional spring loaded valvemanually actuated by depression of button 54. It will be readily seenthat manual depression of button 54 3 will open the valve 52 so that thecavity 511 communicates with the liquid passage 36 with the result thatliquid under pressure in the liquid conduit 36 will be caused to flowtherethrough and through the cavity 50 and liquid passage 36 forapplication to the surface to be cleaned, as shown by the arrows 56.

An outer sleeve member 58 surrounds the inner sleeve 44 and the end 46of the liquid conduit 31 the outer end 60 of the flexible vacuum conduitsection 32 being secured to the outer sleeve member 58, as shown. Itwill thus be seen that the vacuum passage 40 in the body portion 34communicates with the interior of the vacuum conduit 32 by way of thesleeve members 44, 58.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner end 62 of theflexible vacuum conduit section 32 is joined to the vacuum inlet 20 ofthe wet vacuum cleaner 12 by an intermediate conduit section 64 throughwhich inner section 66 of liquid conduit 22 enters the interior of thevacuum conduit section 352, and a rigid T-section 6-8. Inner end 66 ofliquid conduit 22 is joined to the eductor 24 which, in turn, is joinedto any conventional flexible hose 70 adapted to be connected to a sourceof liquid under pressure, such as the city water supply.

T-section 68 of the vacuum conduit 18 has a T-portion 72 extendingupwardly therefrom to which the vacuum spoiling valve 26 is secured.Vacuum spoiling valve assembly 28 comprises a lower housing portion 74defining a cavity 76 therein and an upper housing portion '78 defining acavity 80. The upper end 82 of T-portion '72 extends upwardly into thelower cavity '76 to define aperture 83 and a plurality of openings 34are formed in the Wall of housing 74 communicating with cavity 76.

A flexible diaphragm 86 separates and closes the two cavities 76, 80,being sealed between annular flange portions 88, 90 respectively formedon the housing portions 74, 78. Diaphragm 86 may be formed of anysuitable impervious, flexible material, such as Sylphon, metal, leather,rubber or plastic. A disc member 92 is provided in the lower cavity 7 6and connected to and supported by the flexible diaphragm 86 by asuitable stud 94. Diaphragm 86 is movable between an upper position, asshown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and a lower position, as shown in dashedlines 96, in turn moving disc member 92 between an upper position inwhich the aperture 83 defined by the upper end 82 of the T-portion "72is open, thus exposing an interior of the vacuum conduit section 68 tothe atmosphere, and a lower position in which disc member 92 sealinglyengages the upper end 82 of the T-portion 72 thus closing the aperture83. A suitable coil spring 96 is positioned in the upper cavity 80respectively engaging diaphragm 86 and top wall 98 of housing 78, spring96 normally urging the diaphragm 86 downwardly so that the disc member92 engages the end 82 of the T-portion 72 thereby closing the aperture83 in the vacuum conduit section 6-8. A vacuum port 190 is formed in thetop wall 98 of the housing portion 78 with a conventional elbow fitting162 being secured therein.

Eductor 24 comprises a body portion 104 having a passage 106 formedtherethrough. Inner end 66 of the liquid conduit 22 is connected to asuitable fitting 108 which is threaded into end 110 of passage 106 whilehose 70 is likewise connected to a suitable fitting 112 which isthreaded into end 114 of passage 106. A venturi member 116 is positionedin passage 106 intermediate its ends 110, 114, and thus, liquid underpressure from the source connected to the hose 7 it will flow throughthe hose, passage 106, venturi 116 and liquid conduit 22 as shown by thearrows 118. A vacuum port 120 and a detergent inlet port 122 arerespectively formed in body 104 and venturi member 116 has ports 124,126 formed therein at its minimumi-diameter section respectivelycommunicating with the vacuum and detergent inlet ports 120, 122, asshown. Conventional fitting 128 is threaded into the vacuum port 121 anda vacuum line 130 is coupled between fitting 128 and fitting 162 on thevacuum spoiling valve 28. Vacuum port 121} and eductor 24 thuscommunicate with the upper cavity 89 and the vacuum spoiling valve 28 byway of the vacuum line 130.

Body 104 has a projection 132 depending therefrom which may havesuitable threads 134 formed at its lower extremity for attachment to topwall 136 of detergent container 26. Body 164 and portion 132 have apassage 138 formed therein communicating between the detergent inletport 122 and bottom end 146 of the depending portion 132. A suitabledetergent inlet tube 142 may be threaded into the bottom end 144 ofpassage 138 and extends downwardly into the detergent container 26. Aconventional ball check valve 146 is provided in enlarged portion 148 ofpassage 13$ and a conventional needle valve 150 is adjustably threadedin transverse passage 152 which communicates with passage 13% therebyselectively to vary the cross-sectional area of passage 138 and thus thequantity of detergent which flows therethrough and which is entrainedwith the liquid flowing through passage 166, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

It will now be seen that with the detergent valve 52 in the scrubbinghead 16 in its deactuated position, spring 96 in the vacuum spoilingvalve 28 Will bias diaphragm 86 downwardly thereby causing the discmember 92 sealingly to engage the upper end 82 of the T-portion 72 ofthe vacuum conduit section 68 thereby closing aperture 83. Thus, if thewet vacuum cleaner 12 is turned on, vacuum will be applied to the vacuumpassage 40 of the scrubbing head 16, as shown by the arrows 154 in FIGS.2 and 3. It will further be seen that liquid under pressure in the hose70 is present in the passage 166 of the eductor 24, this liquid underpressure being prevented from entering the detergent inlet tube 142 byball check valve 146. The liquid under pressure in passage 106 will,however, enter passage 124 in the venturi member 116, vacuum port 120,vacuum line 130 and thus cavity thereby augmenting the force exerted byspring 96 to bias diaphragm 86 into its aperture-closing position.

Assuming now that the detergent valve 52 is manually actuated bydepressing button 54, the liquid under pressure in the hose 70 will flowthrough passage 106, venturi member 116, and liquid conduit 22 topassage 36 in the scrubbing head 16, as shown by the arrows 118, 56, 58in FIGS. 2 and 3. As is well understood, the flow of liquid through theventuri member 116 in the direction shown by the arrow 118 will create avacuum in passage 124 and vacuum port 129. The liquid in the vacuum lineand cavity 80 of the vacuum spoiling valve 28 will thus immediately beremoved under the influence of this vacuum and a vacuum will then beexerted in cavity 80 and upon diaphragm 86 to cause the diaphragm to beflexed upwardly to its second position, as shown in solid lines in FIG.3, thereby moving disc member 92 upwardly away from the upper end 82 ofthe T-portion '72 so as to expose the aperture 83 to cavity 76. Air willthus enter openings 84 and flow into the aperture 83 under the infiuenceof the vacuum exerted by the wet vacuum cleaner 12, as shown by thearrows 156, thus relieving or spoiling the vacuum previously exerted onthe vacuum passage 41 of the scrubbing head 16, as above-described.

The flow of liquid in the direction 118 through the venturi member 116likewise exerts a vacuum on passage 126 and detergent inlet port 122which causes the ball check valve 146 to open so that liquid detergentin the detergent container 26 is aspirated upwardly through tube 142 andpassage 138 through the detergent inlet port 122 and passage 126, thethus-aspirated liquid detergent then being entrained in the liquidflowing through the venturi member 116 and mixed therewith, as is wellknown to those skilled in the art.

It will now be seen that manual actuation of the detergent valve 52 ofthe scrubbing head 16 will automatically result in shutting off orspoiling of the vacuum at the scrubbing head 16 and also result inapplication of the detergent mixture to the surface being cleaned.Release of the detergent valve 52 will automatically terminate flow ofthe detergent mixture and again initiate the application of vacuum tothe scrubbing head 16 so that the dirty detergent mixture on the surfacebeing cleaned can be removed under the influence of the wet vacuumcleaner 12.

While the system above-described provides automatically alternativedetergent application and vacuum removal, it may be desirable to providea neutral operating position in which the detergent mixture is notapplied and the vacuum is not exerted, this neutral position thuspermitting scrubbing of the surface being cleaned by the brush 42 withthe detergent mixture previously applied. Referring now to FIG. 4 inwhich like elements are indicated by like reference numerals, aT-fitting 158 is inserted in the vacuum line 130 between the eductor 24and the vacuum spoiling valve 28, thus dividing the vacuum line 130 intotwo sections, 130a and 1301:. A conventional ball check valve 160 ispositioned in the passage 162 in the T-fitting 158. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, the detergent valve is shown removed from thescrubbing head 16, it being understood that the detergent valve mayoptionally be located either directly on the scrubbing head 16 as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, or at some other point along the vacuum conduit 18.Thus, detergent valve 164, which corresponds to detergent valve 52 ofFIGS. 1 and 2, is disposed in inner end 66 of the liquid conduit 22,thus defining conduit sections 66a and 66b. Detergent valve 164comprises a conventional valve body 166 having a passage 168 thereincommunicating between liquid conduit sections 66a and 66b. Aconventional valve spool 170 is positioned in passage 168 and is biasedby spring 172 to close the valve, spool 170 being moved against theforce exerted by spring 172 so as to open the valve by manual depressionof knob 174. For convenience, a vacuum relief valve 178 is also mountedon valve body 166. A cavity 180 is formed in the valve body 166communicating with the exterior, as at 182, and having a port 184communicating therewith. Vacuum relief line 186 is provided having itsopposite ends respectively coupled to the T-fitting 158 and port 184 bysuitable fittings, as shown.

It will now be seen that when knob 174 of detergent valve 164 isdepressed, liquid will flow through hose 70, eductor 24, liquid conduitsection 66a, and liquid conduit section 66a to the scrubbing head 16, asshown by the arrows 118, this liquid flow through eductor 24 exerting avacuum on the diaphragm 86 of the vacuum spoling valve 28 byway ofVacuum line section 130a, T-fitting 158 and vacuum line section 13012,as shown by the arrow 155, this vacuum opening the ball check valve 160.The liquid flow through eductor 24 likewise aspirates the liquiddetergent from the container 26 into the liquid flow, asabove-described. When the detergent valve 164 is deactuated by releasingthe manual pressure on knob 174 thereby closing the valve and in turnterminating the liquid flow through eductor 24, the combination of thevacuum in cavity 80 of the vacuum spoiling valve 28 and in vacuum linesection 13012, and the pressure of the liquid in the eductor 24 and inturn in the vacuum line section 130a will close the ball check valve160, thus maintaining the vacuum in cavity 80 of the vacuum spoilingvalve so that diaphragm 86 remains deflected upwardly with vacuumconduit section 68 thus remaining open to the atmosphere to spoil thevacuum at the scrubbing head 16. It is thus possible to scrub thesurface as desired using the previously applied detergent mixturewithout applying any additional quantity of detergent mixture.

When the scrubbing operation has been completed and it is then desiredto remove the dirty detergent mixture by the vacuum exerted by the wetvacuum cleaner 12, the vacuum release valve 182 is opened by depressingknob 188 against the force exerted by spring 190 in cavity 180, thusopening the cavity 180 to the atmosphere. Since cavity 180 communicatesby way of vacuum relief line 186 with T-fitting 158, vacuum line section1311b and cavity 80 of the vacuum spoiling valve 28, the vacuumdetergent valve 164,

in cavity will be relieved by the entry of air into cavit; 180 of thevacuum relief valve 178 and the diaphragm 86 of the vacuum spoilingvalve 28 will thus be deflectei downwardly by the influence of spring 96thereby to ClOSt the aperture 83 formed by the top 82 of the T-portior72, the vacuum thus being exerted on the vacuum pas sage 40 of thescrubbing head 16, as previously described It will be readily seen thatthe vacuum relief valve 17! need not be mounted on body 166 of thedetergent valve 164, but on the contrary may be located at any othelconvenient location. If the detergent valve is located or the scrubbinghead 16, it will be understood that the vacuum relief line 186 willextend through the vacuum conduit 18 along with the liquid conduit 22.

It will be readily understood that in applications where city water isnot readily available for connection to the apparatus, a container ofpremixed detergent mixture may be employed with a suitable pumpsupplying the mixture under pressure to the hose 70. In such anarrangement, the detergent-aspirating portion of the eductor 24 may beeliminated. While the vacuum spoiling valve 28 has been shown as beingactuated by diaphragm 86, it will be seen that any other device actuatedin response to a differential in pressure or a change in volume offluid, such as a piston operating in a cylinder, may be employed forselectively opening and closing the aperture 83 defined by the top edge82 of the T-portion 72 of the vacuum conduit section 68. In bothembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 described above, the vacuumspoiling valve 28 is actuated to spoil the vacuum in response to apredetermined pressure condition, in that case a vacuum. It will bereadily apparent that the system may be reversed so that the vacuumspoiling valve 28 is actuated to spoil the vacuum in response to theopposite pressure condition, i.e., the static pressure of the liquid inhose 70. Thus, spring 96 of the vacuum spoiling valve 28 may be arrangednormally to bias diaphragm 86 and disc 92 to their upper vacuum spoilingpositions with the static pressure of the liquid in hose 70 thusdeflecting diaphragm 86 downwardly and in turn moving the disc 92 toclose the aperture 83. In such a reversed system, the check valve ofFIG. 4 will likewise be reversed so as to be opened in response to thestatic pressure exerted by the liquid in hose '70 when the detergentvalve is closed and closed under the influence of the vacuum created bythe venturi member 116 when the detergent valve is opened.

While there have been described above the principles of this inventionin connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way of example and not as alimitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for wet scrubbing and vacuum cleaning a surface comprising:cleaning head means for scrubbing a surface and including liquid passagemeans for applying a cleaning liquid to said surface and vacuum passagemeans for removing said liquid from said surface; vacuum conduit meanshaving one end coupled to said vacuum passage means and its other endadapted to be coupled to a vacuum source, said vacuum conduit meanshaving an aperture therein intermediate said ends; first selectivelyactuable valve means having first and second positions for respectivelyopening and closing said aperture; liquid conduit means having one endcoupled to said liquid passage means and its other end adapted to becoupled to a source of liquid under pressure; second selectivelyactuable valve means operatively connected to said liquid conduit meansfor admitting said liquid to said liquid passage means; and meanscoupling said liquid con-duit means and said first valve means foractuating the same to its first position in response to liquid flow insaid liquid conduit means thereby to spoil the vacuum in said vacuumpassage means while liquid is being applied to said surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling neans includes meansin said vacuum conduit means for :reating a predetermined pressurecondition in response to 1 predetermined liquid flow condition therein,and means for actuating said first valve means to one of its positions.n response to said pressure condition and to the other of its positionsin the absence of said pressure con ion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first valve means includesmeans for normally actuating the same to its second position thereby toclose said aperture whereby vacuum is applied to said vacuum passagemeans.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes meansfor creating a pressure differential with respect to atmosphericpressure in response to said liquid flow, means for actuating said firstvalve means to said first position thereof in response to said pressuredifferential thereby to open said aperture, and means for actuating saidfirst valve means to said second position thereof thereby to close saidaperture in response to said absence of said liquid flow whereby vacuumis applied to said vacuum passage means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second valve means is manuallyactuated, and wherein said coupling means includes aspirating means insaid fluid conduit means for creating another vacuum in response to saidliquid flow therein, means for actuating said first valve means to saidfirst position thereof in response to a vacuum, and conduit meanscoupling said aspirating means to said actuating means for exerting saidother vacuum thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for selectivelyretaining said first valve means in said first position thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second valve means is manuallyactuated, and wherein said coupling means includes means in said liquidconduit means for creating a predetermined pressure condition inresponse to a predetermined liquid flow condition therein, means foractuating said valve means to one of its positions in response to saidpressure condition and to the other of its positions in the absence ofsaid pressure condition, conduit means coupling said pressure conditioncreating means and said actuating means for applying said pressurecondition thereto, means in said last-named conduit means formaintaining said pressure condition on said actuating means followingtermination of said liquid flow condition, and manually actuated meansfor selectively releasing said pressure condition applied to saidactuating means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means operativelyconnected to said liquid conduit means and adapted to be coupled to asource of cleansing medium for mixing said cleansing medium with saidliquid.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second valve means is manuallyactuated, and wherein said coupling means includes an aspiratoroperatively connected to said liquid conduit means for creating anothervacuum in response to said liquid flow, said aspirator having a vacuumpart therein; said first valve means including a member closing saidaperture in said second position thereof, said aperture communicatingwith the atmosphere in said second position of said first valve means, ahousing defining a cavity, a flexible diaphragm sealingly closing saidcavity, said diaphragm being connected to said member for actuating thesame between said first and second positions thereof, said housinghaving a vacuum port; and another conduit coupling said aspirator andsaid vacuum port whereby said other vacuum is exerted on said diaphragmthereby moving said member to said first position thereof whereby saidaperture is opened to spoil said vacuum in said vacuum passage means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising spring means in saidcavity normally urging said diaphragm to move said member to said secondposition thereof thereby to close said aperture.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said aspirator includes an eductorhaving an inlet port adapted to be coupled to a source of cleansingmedium whereby said cleansing medium is entrained with said liquidflowing in said liquid conduit means.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising check valve meansoperatively connected to said other conduit for maintaining the vacuumin said cavity following termination of said liquid flow in saidaspirator whereby said member is maintained in said first positionthereof, and manually actuated relief valve means coupled to said otherconduit intermediate said check valve means and said housing forselectively relieving said maintained vacuum in said cavity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,200,026 5/ 1940 Juelson 1532lFOREIGN PATENTS 1,401,051 4/ 1965 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR WET SCRUBBING AND VACUUM CLEANING A SURFACE COMPRISING:CLEANING HEAD MEANS FOR SCRUBBING A SURFACE AND INCLUDING LIQUID PASSAGEMEANS FOR APPLYING A CLEANING LIQUID TO SAID SURFACE AND VACUUM PASSAGEMEANS FOR REMOVING SAID LIQUID FROM SAID SURFACE; VACUUM CONDUIT MEANSHAVING ONE END COUPLED TO SAID VACUUM PASSAGE MEANS AND ITS OTHER ENDADAPTED TO BE COUPLED TO A VACUUM SOURCE, SAID VACUUM CONDUIT MEANSHAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS; FIRST SELECTIVELYACTUABLE VALVE MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS FOR RESPECTIVELYOPENING AND CLOSING SAID APERTURE; LIQUID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING ONE ENDCOUPLED TO SAID LIQUID PASSAGE MEANS AND ITS OTHER END ADAPTED TO BECOUPLED TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE; SECOND SELECTIVELYACTUABLE VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIQUID CONDUIT MEANSFOR ADMITTING SAID LIQUID TO SAID LIQUID PASSAGE MEANS; AND MEANSCOUPLING SAID LIQUID CONDUIT MEANS AND SAID FIRST VALVE MEANS FORACTUATING THE SAME TO ITS FIRST POSITION IN RESPONSE TO LIQUID FLOW INSAID LIQUID CONDUIT MEANS THEREBY TO SPOIL THE VACUUM IN SAID VACUUMPASSAGE MEANS WHILE LIQUID IS BEING APPLIED TO SAID SURFACE.